NAGPUR: At a time when there is a demand to open up additional areas in the park for tourism, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body monitoring all tiger reserves, has directed tiger reserves to follow pre-designated routes only and there should be no change in safari routes.
The NTCA advisory was issued on March 1 to chief wildlife wardens of all tiger-ranging states. The tiger reserves have been asked to submit a compliance report by April 1.
The NTCA has said, “There must be no route change in the safaris being carried out in tiger reserves and the routes should be only one-way. The pre-designated routes should be strictly followed.”
The tiger reserves have also been asked to monitor tourism activity with electronic monitoring mechanisms in safari vehicles. in TadobaMadhya Pradesh Pench and Kanhathe department is using the Bagheera app to keep tabs on tourist vehicles.
Officials said tourism in tiger reserves is regulated and managed as per the tiger conservation plans (TCPs) approved by the NTCA under Section 38V of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
“The basic principle behind the regulation and management of tourism in tiger reserves is to adopt low-impact wildlife tourism, which protects ecological integrity of forest and wildlife areas, secures wildlife values ​​and its surrounding areas while maintaining the core areas as inviolate,” said NTCA officials.
What does the new directive mean? Tadoba officials said, “The new advisory will come in handy to initiate action against safari vehicles crowding at one place inside the reserve. It also means that once you enter a certain route, you won’t be able to immediately turn back by taking a U-turn.”